Electromagnetic vibrator for local application to the person.



A. ROSENBERG.

ELECTROMAGNETIC VIBRATOR FOR LOCAL APPLICATION TO THE PERSON.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.19, 1910.

Patented Aug. 8,

F1g".1. x3; 11 5 L135 AL ROSENBERG. ELBGTROMAGNETIG VIBRATOR FOR LOCALAPPLICATION TO THE PERSON.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 19, 1910.

mm 9 1 9 n my C )H S 8 M0 If i gs w m m w w A l a 0.: 62 mu m m e t .a PI. A: 9 .2 0 J 0. M. O a m 1 M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTUS ROSENBERG, OF LONDON, ENGLANIO.

ELECTROMAGNETIC VIBRATOR FOR LOCAL APPLICATION TO THE PERSON.

1 ,ooo,294..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS ROSENBERG, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, and resident of London, England, engineer,have invented anImproved Electromagnetic Vibrator for Local Application to the Person,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved instrument for the production, andlocal application to the person, of continuous, rapid, and intensemechanical vibrations or oscillations of a character suited to thetreatment of various maladies which are capable of being temporarily orpermanently amelcation thereto of the mechanical vibratory massage, andto the combination with said instrument of means whereby, when desired,a pulsatory electric current may be passed through the body from thepoint of application thereto of the mechanical vibratory treatment andsimultaneously with the latter.

Among the complaints which have been found to yield to vibratorytreatment, may be specially instanced sea-sickness ,and similardistressing maladies, which are relieved by the employment of theinstrument in such manner as to effect the transmission, to-

the aural labyrinth, of thevibrations produced by means of theinvention. While the origin of sea-sickness is obscure, the discomfortwould. appear to be due to a peculiar excitement communicated to thenervous system, more especially in the gastric region, from the nervesof the aural labyrinth in consequence of the relatively slow rhythmicalsurging of the lymph within the semi-circular canals, induced by theswaying movement (particularly in the vertical direction) to which thewhole body is subjected; the relief resulting from the application ofthe invention being apparently due to the fact that the exciting effectsof the relatively slow surging of the lymph are lost in or overcome bythe more rapid and intense agitation produced by the mechanicalvibrations or oscillations transmitted through the osseous structure ofthe head.

The invention is also-well adapted for use in the treatment of deafnessby the application of massage to the middle and inner ear, Whether witha view of curing or ameliorating the complaint, or of maintaining inproper condition the structure and tissues of the inner portions of theauditory canal when these have already been treated by Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed February 19, 1910.

Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

Serial No. 544,929.

other means so as to efiect the restoration or improvement of impairedhearing power. The invention, although thus adapted for application to.or through the medium of the auditory canal, is not confined in itsuseto any one part of the body, but may be employed in connection with anylocal or general ailment for which the vibratory (or the combinedvibratory and electrical) treatment is found beneficial.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal axial section,taken on line l1 of Fig. 3, showing the instrument of the presentinvention as adapted for the administration of mechanical vibratorytreatment only. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, on line22 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a View of the outer end of the instrument withthe cap removed, and Fig. 4 is a similar View, the armature of theelectro-magnet, the bridge-spring and conductive ring which support thearmature, and the contact terminal of the make-and-break device, beingalso removed. Fig. 5 is a diagram of the electrical connections employedfor the administration of the mechanical vibratory treatment. Fig. 6 isa part sectional view, similar to Fig. 1, showing a very simpleattachment whereby the instrument constructed as illustrated in Figs. 1to 5 may be adapted for the administration, concurrently with themechanical vibratory treatment, of electrical treatment by means of.

extra current; Fig. 7 being an inverted plan view of the, cap shown inFig. 6, and Fig. 8 a diagram of the electrical connections employed.Fig, 9 illustrates, diagrammatically, a modified construction andelectrical connections employed for the administration, concurrentlywith the mechanical vibratory treat-ment, of electrical treatment bymeans of induced current.

Referring first to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, theinstrument, which may be termed an improved electro1nagnetic vibrator,comprises a casing, preferably of ebonite or like material, ofapproximately mushroom shape, the stem a being usually of a diameter andconfiguration adapted for insertion into the external meatus. of the earor other cavity of the body. As the entire mstrument thus, as a rule,occupies but a small space, 1t is important that its internalconstruction should be adapted to afford the greatest intensity ofvibration relatively to the total mass available. For this reason theelectro-magnetic device employed is of a character adapted to combinethe functions of an electro-magnet in attracting its armature, withthose of a solenoid in producing movement of its core, the combinedarmature and core being caused (in consequence of the rapid and repeatedalternate making and breaking of the circuit of the winding) to producea rapid and continuous series of vibrations or oscillations which aretransmitted to the casin Y concentrically with the axis of the tubularstem a of the casing is fixed a soft iron rod Z) which may be made toscrew adjustably through the terminal portion of the stem as indicatedat c, and which extends longitudinally through a bobbin carrying awinding (Z of fine insulated wire and fitting within the tubular stem;an iron sheath 0 being preferably interposed between the bobbin (Z andthe wall of. the stem a. This iron sheath 6 (which may be formed ofsplit tubing or of thin sheet metal lapped about the bobbin so as toleave a longitudinal gap as indicated at 0 Fig. 4) serves as an externalannular ole-piece for the magnet, the inner end of seat itself againstan iron disk 7 which occupies the bottom or inner end of the bore of thetubular stem and has a central hole through which the core I) may bescrewed so as to maintain contact with the disk.

The fixed core Z) does not extend through the entire length of thebobbin (Z; the outer portion of the axial passage through the latterbeing occupied by a separate core 9 adapted to serve both as thearmature of the electro-magnet and also as the movable core of thesolenoid constituted by the winding. The outer end of this eore-armatureg (as it may be termed) is attached to a steel leaf-spring h whichbridges a cavity within the enlarged mushroom head of the casing; thespring 71, which extends dian'ietrically of the chamber provided in themushroom head, being pivoted or otherwise tixed by one of its ends (asindicated at .Z") to a ring Z of conductive material surrounding themouth of the casing while its other end m is held frictionally betweenthe ring Z and the edge of the mushroom-head so as to afford suiticientfreedom of movement to the core-armature g. The ring Z, which may beprevented from turning by a pair of lugs Z upon the underside of thering engaging in recesses Z provided in the periphery of themushroom-head j, is held in position by means of a cap a forming aclosure for the cavity in the mushroom head 7'. This ring Z serves forthe convey ance of current between the spring h andv one end of thewinding, the connection between the ring and winding (wluch may bemaintained by a wlre as at 0) being per the sheath being made to manent;while the other end of the winding is attached to a conductor whichforms one member of the circuit and is led from one pole of the sourceof energy into the casing by way (preferably) of a screw-terminal y)projecting at the underside of the mushroom-head.

Attached to the outer side of the bridgespring it is an auxiliary orbu'fienspring (1 which is tipped as at r with non-oxidizable metal so asto be adapted to form the movable member of the make-and-break device,the other or stationary member of said device being constituted by a setscrew 8 adjustable through a threaded hole provided, in axial alinementwith the core, in a bracket t of conductive material fixed within thehollow mushroom head and cap 71. To this bracket is connected (preferably through the medium of a metal plate 2 a conductor which forms thesecond member of the circuit and is led from the second pole of thesource of energy preferably by way of a screw'terminal 24 carried by theplate 29 and projecting at the under side of the mushroon'i-head,

By the use of the auxiliary or bufferspring 9 just mentioned, thecore-armature g isenabled to perform a longer stroke, while the intervalbetween successive closures and interruptions of the circuit islengthened so that, the core-armature being permitted to acquire greatermomentum than would otherwise be attainable, the force of the vibrationproduced (by the arrest of the oscillation of the core-armature) eachtime the circuit is closed and broken is considerably increased. Theactual length of stroke performed by the corearmature 9 may be regulatedby screwing the core Z) toward or from the corear1nature, for whichpurpose the outer end 0 of the core 7) preferably presents a notch atthe open extremity of the tubular stem a of the instrument as shown. Thecap a, which is preferably held in position by screws as at a may alsohave a central aperture a giving access to the head of the set-screw sso that the latter may be readily adjusted as required.

In order to augment the mass of material in motion, the outer end of thecorearmature 9 may be provided with an enlargement in the form of arelatively thick CllSl\'- like piece of iron 1) constituting a head; thebutter-spring y, brir ge-spring 71, and head 21 being all secured to thecore-armature g preferably by means of a nut "2: screwing upon a reducedand threaded prolongation of the corearmature which passes through holesin those parts.

It is to be observed that, while the employment of an electricalmake-and-break device for the purpose of prmlucing a continuous seriesof mechanical vibrations for transmission to the body is not new, thepresent invention enables vibrations to be produced which are devoid ofthe hard and irritating character practically inseparable fromvibrations obtained with apparatus wherein the armature of anelectro-magnet performs in effect the function of a rigid hammer beatingupon a rigid anvil. This absence of any hard quality in. the vibrationsis due on the one hand to the cushion ing effect of the buffer-spring 9when the masses of metal 9 and 41 move in the one direction, and on theother hand to the fact that, when these masses move in the otherdirection, the. core-armature g is not permitted to strike upon the coreI) of the winding 03, nor is the mass of metal a permitted to contactwith the external pole-- piece 6, the momentum acquired by the masses 9and '22 being then checked and absorbed by the bridge-spring it alone.

It will be obvious that while the stem a of the mushroom shaped casingis well adapted for introduction into any cavity of the body, the top ofthe cap a, being relatively broad and. flat, is better fitted forapplication (for example) to.the eyeball or other part where a largersurface of contact is desirable. This capability on the part of theinstrument, of being reversed or applied in any position or direction,results from the fact that the entire mass of the casing (in consequenceof the rapid oscillation of the internal movable masses), is maintainedequally in a state of intense (although normally invisible) vibration;the instrument of the present invention being thus distinguishedfrom'those apparatus wherein an externally presented element, servingthe function of a hammer, moves relatively to the rest ofthe instrumentand is alone adapted forapplication to the person of the patient.

Current may be obtained from a small battery (w, Fig. 5) carried in thepocket and provided with a switch w, so that, the terminals u, p of theinstrument being connected to the poles of the battery by wires as at w,79 respectively, the instrument can be readily brought into operationunder any circumstances without attracting special attention.

lVhen the instrument is used for the administration of combinedvibratory and electrical treatment, a circuit is established through thebody of the patient in such manner that, without any expenditure ofpower beyond what is necessary for the production of the mechanicalvibrations, a series of electrical shocks will be communicated by-thepassage of a pulsatory current through the body from the point at whichthe instrument contacts therewith.

The current passed through the body of the patient may either be (as inthe arrangement illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8) the extra currentgenerated, each time the circuit is broken, in a shunt from the maincircuit, the body forming part of said shunt circuit; or may be (as inthe arrangement illustrated in Fig. 9) the current induced in thesecondary winding of an induction coil whereof the primary winding isconstituted by the coil d already described; the body forming part ofthe secondary circuit. In either case contact is established with thebody of the patient by means of a metal contact plate 00 (preferably ofzinc, and circular) detachably mounted on the cap a and" covered, asindicated in Fig. 6, with a pad m of absorbent fabric moistened with(say) salt water to insure proper conduction to the skin of the patient.

In the case of the extra current arrangement (Figs. 6 to 8), thecontact-plate a: may be in one piece, which, on being mounted inposition, is automatically brought into permanent electrical connectionwith one member of the circuit of the electro-magnet inside theinstrument, the shunt circuit established through the plate a and thebody of the patient being closed by the patient touching (directly orthrough some metallic connection) a pole of the battery w. In the caseof the induced current arrangement, the contact-plate a may be either inone piece as above described. or (as in Fig. 9) in two portionsseparated or insulated from one another, these portions, when mounted inposition, being automatically brought, respectively, into permanentelectrical connection with the opposite ends of the secondary windingcoiled about the winding d- Describing, first, the arrangementillustrated in Figs. 6 to 8, it will be observed that the metalcontact-plate m (which is shown as formed of a single piece) isdetachably secured to the cap n by means of a pair of spring metal studs00 fixed to the back of the plate and passed through holes 00 (Figs. 1and 7) in the top of the cap; the inner ends of the studs, when thusinserted, being wedged into corresponding holes in a metal plate yattached to the inner surface of the cap. When the cap is mounted inposition on the mushroom-head j of the instrument, electrical connectionis established between the plate g and the ring Z already mentioned, bymeans of a spring metal tonguey as indicated in Figs. 1 and 6.

When in use, the moistened pad 12 is applied to the person of thepatient (represented diagrammatically in Fig. 8 by the dotted circle 2),who at the same time touches (either directly or through, say, themedium of a metal rod) a pole of the battery av, preferably that pole towhich the terminal of the instrument is connected.

The connection thus established, as indicated by the dotted line .2 inFig. 8, closes a circuit wherein an extra current of relatively hightension is produced each time the battery-circuit is interrupted by themake-and-break device, with the result that the patient experiences arapid series of electric shocks, which pass through the body from or tothe point whereat the pad m is applied to the skin.

Describing, now, the arrangement illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 9,it will be observed that the metal contact plate w is formed of twoseparate portions which are mounted upon, and insulated from one anotherby, a backing w of insulating material. The spring-studs 00 which arefixed to the respective portions of the metal plate so as to be adaptedto pass through holes in the top of the cap 77. as before, make wedgingcontact each with a separate metal plate fI/ attached to the innersurface of the cap, the respective plates 3 being inpermanent electricalconnection (through conductors indicated at 2 2 with the opposite polesof a secondary winding 03 of fine insulated wire coiled about theWinding cl already described. When both portions of the duplexcontact-plate w are applied to the person of the patient (representeddiagrammatically in Fig. 9 by the dotted and shaded circle a) thecircuit through the secondary winding d is closed through the patientsbody be'-' tween the respective parts of the contactplate, with theresult that a rapid series of electric shocks are experienced locally.

In the event of the induced current arrangement being employed with asingle instead -of a duplex contact-plate 0:, one end of the secondarywinding 03 is connected to the contact-plate and the other to one poleof the battery w, so that, on the contactplate being applied to the bodyof the patient while he (either directly or through some metallicconnection) touches the other pole of the battery, the secondary circuitwill be closed through the body.

It will be evident that the induced current arrangement is adapted toafford a greater range of variation in the strength of the electricaltreatment administered, than is the extra current arrangement previouslydescribed, any desired alteration in the induced current being readilyeffected by the employment, in combination with the same primarywinding, of a secondary Winding-J of suitably modified character asregards either length of coil or thickness of wire, or both.

Claims- 1. An improved electro-magnetic vibrator for local applicationto the person comprising a non-magnetic casing of rigid material and ofapproximately mushroom shape consisting of a tubular stem and a hollowhead;

an electro-magnet housed within the stem; a core for the electro-magnetextending only partly through the length of the elec tro-magnet; anarmature; a stem of magnetizable material on said armature ext-endingwithin the remaining portion of the length of the electro-magnet; meansfor adjusting the core toward and from the stem; an electricallyconductive ring within the head; a spring one end of which is rigidlysecured to the ring While the other end is slidably engaged in thecasing, said spring carrying the armature and retaining the stem out ofcontact with the core during its vibration; a butter spring on saidarmature; an adjustable terminal within the hollow head adapted to bepermanently connected electrically with one pole of the source ofcurrent and adapted to establish electrical contact with the bufferspring when the magnet winding is deenergized and the armature is movedaway from the winding by the spring; a terminal for connection with thesource of supply connected with one end of the electro-magnet winding;0. second terminal for connection with the source of supply connectedwith the adjustable terminal; and a connection between the spring andthe other end of the winding of the magnet, substantially as set forth.

2. An improved electro-magnetic vibrator for local application to theperson comprising a non-magnetic easing of rigid material and ofapproximately mushroom shape consisting of a tubular stem and a hollowhead; an electro-magnet housed within the stem, a core for theelectro-magnet extending only partly through the length of theelectromagnet; an armature; a stem of magnetizable material on saidarmature extending within the remaining portion of the length of theelectro-magne't; means for adjusting the core toward and from the stem;an electrically conductive ring within the head; a spring one end ofwhich is rigidlysecured to the ring while the other end is slidablyengaged in the casing, said spring carrying the armature and retainingthe stem out of contact with the core during its vibration; a bufferspring on said armature; an adjustable terminal within the hollow headadapted to be permanently connected electrically with one pole of thesource of current and adapted to establish electrical contact with thebutter spring when the magnet winding is denergized and the armature ismoved away from the winding by the spring; a terminal for connectionwith the source of supply connected with one end of the electro-magnetwinding; a second ter- -minal for connection with the source of supplyconnected with the adjustable terminal; a connection between the springand the other end of the winding of the magnet, and means for passingthe current through the body of the patient concurrently with theadministration thereto of the mechanical vibratory treatment, said meanscomprising a terminal within the head of the casing; a connectionbetween the ring and'the terminal; a metal contact plate on the outsideof the casing; and a connection between the terminal and the contactplate, substantially as set forth.

3. An improved ele'ct-ro-magnetic vibrator for local applicationto theperson compris ing a non-magnetic casing of rigid material and ofapproximately mushroom shape con-' sisting of a tubular stem and ahollow head, an electro-magnet housed within the stem; a core for theelectro-magnet extending only partly through the length of theelectromagnet; an armature; astem of'magnetizable material on saidarmature extending within the remaining portion of the lengthy of'theelectro-magnet; means for adjusting the core toward and from the stem;an electrically conductive ringwithin the head; a spring one end ofwhich'is rigidly secured to the ring while the other end is slidablyengaged in the casing, said spring carrying the armature and retaininthe stem out of contact with the core durlng its vibration; a bufferspring on saidarmature; an adjustable termlnal within'the hollow headada ted to be permanently connected electrically with one pole of thesource of current'and adapted to establish electrical contact with thebuffer spring when the magnet winding is deenergized and the armature ismoved away\ from the winding by the spring; a terminal for connectionwith the source of supply connected with one end of the electro-Inagnetwinding; a second terminal for connection with the source of supply con;

. nected with the adjustable terminal; a connection between the springand the other end of the winding of the magnet, and means for passingthe current through the body of the patientconcurre'ntly with theadministration thereto'of t e mechanical vibratory treatment, said meanscomprising a metal contact plate on the outside ofthe casing and adaptedto be ap lied to the person; a secondary windin inclosing the winding ofthe electro-magnet; a battery; a

connectlon between one end of the second-' ary winding and the contactpiece and .a'

connection between the other end of the a for local application to theperson compris ing a non-magnetic casing of rigid material a and ofapproximately mushroom shape consisting of a tubular stem and a hollowhead; an electro-magnet housed within the stem; a core for theelectro-magnet extending only partly through the length of theelectromagnet 'an armature; a stem of magnetizable material on saidarmature extending within the remaining portion of the length of theelectro-magnet; means for adjusting the core toward and from the stem,an electrically conductive ring within the head; a spring one end ofwhich is rigidly secured to t e ring while the other end is slidablyengaged in the casing, said spring carrying the armature and retainingthe stem out of contact with the core during its vibration; a bufferspring on said armature; an adjustable terminal within the hollow headadapt 'ed to be permanently connected electrically with one pole of thesource of current and adapted to establish electrical contact with thebufi'er spring when the magnet winding is denergized and the armature ismoved away from the winding by the spring; a terply connected with oneend of the electro: magnet winding; a second terminal for connectionwith the source of supply connected with the adjustable terminal; aconnection between the spring and the other end of the winding of themagnet; and means for passing the current through the body of thepatient concurrently with the administration thereto of the mechanicalvibratory. treatment, said means comprising a contact-piece in two partsarranged on the casing and minal for connection with the source ofsupadapted'for application to the person; a

secondary winding encircling the winding of the electro-magnet andelectric connections between the ends of the secondary winding and therespective portions of the contact plate, substantially as set forth.

AUGUSTUS ROSENBERG. Witnesses H. D. J AMESON,

' C. P. LIDDON.

